Fluid pressure operated bottom hole pump



Nov. 29, 1966 w, McMlLLAN 3,288,081

FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED BOTTOM HOLE PUMP Filed Dec. 7, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 1 42; l Fig.6 22.5 I 54 l i 56 I E 72 78 I I I I r l l i lI I i I 1/ I k i 75 74 70 VL \64 f 5a 60 5 ii I i E i i l i l I i I l 24George W. McMillan 0 O INVENTOR. 1 0 O :'-40

0 o r MW 0 o ma Wmqfim Nov. 29, 1966 G. W. MCMILLAN FLUID PRESSUREOPERATED BOTTOM HOLE PUMP Filed Dec. '7, 1964 III/IIIIIA 2 Sheets-Sheet2 George McMillan l NVEN TOR.

United States Patent George W. McMillan, 101 S. 1st St., CarrizoSprings, Tex.

Filed Dec. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 416,543 8 Claims. (Cl. 103-234) Thisinvention comprises a novel and useful fluid pressure operated bottomhole pump and more particularly pertains to a fluid pressure pumpinginstallation particularly adapted for use in deep wells and especiallyas a bottom hole pump in oil wells.

Conventional deep well bottom hole pumps now operated in the petroleumindustry are characterized by a pump barrel and a pump piston located atthe bottom of the well bore with a tubing connected to the'pump barreland supporting the latter and discharging the fluid pumped by the deviceupwardly to the surface, while a string of sucker or pump rods extendingthrough the tubing is connected to the pump piston at the bottom-of thewell and is vertically reciprocated to effect operation of the piston bya means or power source at the surface. The pumping installation of thistype is conventional in the industry and has attained widespread use.However, it possesses a number of inherent disadvantages. Thus, owing tothe increasing depths of well bores in the oil industry, mechanicalproblems arise from the long length of the tubing and the sucker rodstring, often thousands of feet. In view of the weight alone of thesucker rod string, powerful operating mechanism is required to effectthe vertical reciprocatory'motion thereof to effect the pumpingoperation. Further, the large amount of material required in such 'aconstruction is expensive. The provision of the necessary stuffing boxeswhich establish a seal between the vertical reciprocating sucker rod andthe stationary tubing is in itself a further source of wear and expense.Further, when it is desired for economical reasons to power a pluralityof such pumping installations from a single power plant, the mechanicalconnections to different well bores each having its respective suckerrod string becomes complicated, expensive and a fruitful source ofmechanical breakdowns.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide apumping system which will largely overcome the foregoing disadvantages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pumping installationparticularly adapted for economically and efficiently pumping deep wellsand which will completely eliminate the necessity for a mechanicalconnection such as sucker rod strings for connecting a bottom hole pumpto an operating source at the surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which willeliminate the necessity for vertically reciprocating pump actuatingmembers in a well bore'and will replace them by a stationary conduit forsupplying a controlled adjustably varied fluid pressure to a pumplocated at the bottom of the well bore.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a fluid pressureoperated deep well pump which may have any desired liquid volume ofdelivery without the limitation-s customarily incurred through requiringa reciprocating piston therein.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a ice will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing a pumping installationin accordance with this invention and with an encased well bore havingthe pumping installation of this invention therein disclosed partly invertical section and partly in elevation with parts being broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken upon anenlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by the sectionline 22 of FIGURE 1 and showing the upper end of the pump barrel andpressure fluid inlet means of the installation;

FIGURE 3 is a detail view taken upon an enlarged scale at the upperportion of FIGURE 1 and of the pump barrel and pressure fluid controlmeans therefor, being taken substantially upon a plane indicated by thesection line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a further detail view in horizontal section taken upon anenlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by the sectionline 44 of FIGURE 1 and of the lower portion of the pump barrel;

FIGURE 5 is a detail view taken in vertical and transverse section ofthe lower portion of the pump barrel, being taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 55- of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a view taken upon an enlarged scale in vertical longitudinalsection through the automatic control valve of the device.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 it will be seen that the numeral 10designates a portion of the casing of a well bore which extends from thesurface down into a productive formation from which oil or other liquidis to be recovered. At the casing head 12 the casing is provided with aconnection 14 by means of which the interior of the casing may be ventedto the atmosphere. Extending through the casing head and secured theretoin any suitable manner' is the upper end of a tubing string 16 by meansof which liquid is produced from the well bore and is discharged througha suitable fitting 18 as indicated by the arrow 20 to any suitable placefor collection of liquid as, for example, to oil storage tanks and thelike. The tubing string extends downwardly through the casing 10 and atany suitable place adjacent its lower end is provided with diametricallyenlarged cylindrical body 22 comprising the barrel of the pump unit ofthe installation. At its lower end, as shown in FIGURE 5, the pumpbarrel is closed by a threadedly connected closure body 24 having apartition 26 therein with an opening 28 comprising an inlet port for thelower end of the barrel. A foot valve 30 cooperates with the adjacentsurface of the partition or wall 26 about the opening 28 to serve as anupwardly opening non-return inlet valve by means of which fluid isadmitted into the lower end of the pump barrel 22 through the port 28from the well bore, and is prevented from return thereto.

It will be further noted that the lower end of the closure body 24 isprovided with a horizontal partition 32 thereacross provided with abushing guide sleeve 34 through which the stem 36 of the valve isslidably received and by which the valve is retained. The partition 32is of a spider-like character, or if desired may be a plate having aplurality of perforations 36 therethrough to permit the passage of fluidupwardly therethrough. The lower end of the body 24 is closed as by abottom wall 38 which maybe threadedly engaged therewith, while aplurality of apertures 40 through the side wall constitutes acylindrical screening element for the device by which fluid from thelower portion of the well casing may enter into the lower end of thepump barrel through the foot valve 30.

Disposed centrally of the pump barrel 22 and extending downwardly fromthe flow tubing string 16 is a pipe 42 whose lower end has threadedlysecured thereto a valve cage 44 as shown in FIGURE 5, and which isdisposed closely adjacent the bottom wall 26 of the pump barrel andabove the foot valve 30 therein. The valve cage has a non-returndownwardly closing check valve such as the ballvalve 46 which cooperateswith a port or valve seat 48 in the valve cage 44. The valve permitsfluid to enter the lower end of the pipe 42 and pass upwardlytherethrough to the tubing string to the surface from which it isdischarged to the fitting 18, but prevents return flow.

An operating fluid under pressure such as air, gas or the like issupplied by the fluid pressure inlet line 50 extending through asuitable fitting 51 at an upper end of the tubing string 16, and passesdownwardly through the tubing string entering an automatic selectorvalve 52 which is disposed in the upper end of the pump barrel and toone side thereof. As will be noted from FIGURE 1, the gas supply conduit50 is connected by a suitable pipe 54 to an automatic control valveindicated generally by the numeral 56. Fluid under pressure such as airor gas is supplied from any suitable source, not shown, by means of aconduit 58 to the selector valve 56 and from thence to the lines 54 and50, while the interior of the pumping installation is vented to theatmosphere periodically through the selector valve 56 and a venting line60. Any conventional form of automatic timer 62 is provided whichthrough an operating or connecting means indicated by the conduit 64effects operation of the selector valve 56 at predetermined timeintervals for a predetermined period of time. As a result of thisarrangement, the pumping operation of the installation is automatic andmay be preset for a period of time intervals and for pumping operationsof variable duration. Inasmuch as conventional forms of automatic timersfor pumping wells are well known and the construction and connection ofthe timing device to the selector valve forms no part of the presentinvention, a further description thereof is deemed to be unnecessary.

Referring now to FIGURE 6 it will be observed that the selector valveincludes a cylindrical valve casing 70 to one end of which the operatingline 64 is connected. Reciprocable within the barrel 70 is a valvepiston 72 having a diametrically reduced central portion 74 providing avalving passage. The valve piston is spring urged by the spring 76toward the right as viewed in FIGURE 6. The pressure delivery conduit 54communicates with the interior of the valve 70 and the vent conduit 60and the pressure supply conduit 58 are disposed on opposite sides of thedelivery conduit 54. The dimensions and proportions of the plunger andthe arrangement of the ports are such that the conduit 54 may beconnected with either of the conduits 60 or 58 in alternation but notwith both conduits at one time. At the right side of the valve, there isprovided an operating chamber 78. As previously mentioned, the spring 76drives the valve toward the right, and the fluid pressure supplied tothe operating chamber 78 from the operating means 64 of the automaticcontroller 62 serves to move the plunger toward the left against thespring.

The arrangement is such that when no pressure is supplied to the chamber78, the spring 76 will urge the plunger toward the right at which timethe delivery conduit 54 will be in connection with the venting conduit60 so that the interior of the device will be vented to the atmosphere.well casing will move upwardly through thefoot valve 30, and will fillthe pump barrel to the samelevel therein.

However, when the automatic timer 62 delivers a fluid pressure impulseto the chamber 78, the plunger 72 will At this time the standing levelof liquid in the be forced to the left against the Spring 76 and theventing conduit 60 will be moved out of registration with the deliveryconduit 54, while the pressure supply conduit '58 will be placed incommunication with the delivery conduit 54. At this time, the source offluid under pressure will be placed in communication through the conduit54 and 59 and'the valve assembly 52 with the interior of the pumpbarrel, the pressure thus supplied to the top surface of the liquidstanding therein, forces this liquid downwardly in the pump barrel andupwardly through the valve 46 and discharging it through the flow tubing16 and 18. As will be noted, the increase of pressure will close thefoot valve 30 so as to prevent the escape of the opera-ting pressureinto the casing.

Referring next to FIGURE 3 it will be observed that the valve 52likewise provides a cylindrical casing 80 in which is verticallyreciprocably disposed a plunger 82. The latter is spring-urged as by thespring 84 into an upward position at the upper end of its casing.

Within the pump barrel 22 and above the valve assembly 52 the operatingfluid pressure inlet conduit 50 is provided with a laterally extendingvalve cage 86 having therein a non-return valve 88. The arrangement issuch that pressure within the conduit 50 will close this valve, whilewhen the conduit pressure 50 drops below that within the pump barrel 22,the pressure of the latter will enter through the valve 86, will passupwardly through the conduits 50 and 54 and be discharged through theselector valve 56 through the vent passage 60 thereof. Thus, thepressure within the interior of the pumping barrel 22 is relievedperiodically and automatically by operation of the selector valve 56.

It will be further noted that the valve housing 80 has upper and lowervents 90 and 92 which communicate with the interior of the pump barrel.A further lower vent 94 registering with a port 96 in the cylinderbarrel establishes communication between the lower end of the valvehousing 80 and the interior of the well casing 10 exteriorly of the pumpbarrel.

The arrangement is such that normally the spring 84 will urge the valve82 into closed position closing oil the port 90 and thus the interior ofthe pump barrel from the supply line 50. At the same time, the ports 92,94 and 96 establish free communication with the interior of the pumpbarrel cylinder 22 and the well casing 10 thereby facilitating thefilling of the pump barrel from the foot valve 30.

When actuating pressure is supplied by the conduit 58 through theselector valve 56 under the control of the automatic timer 62, it willfirst close the venting valve 88, will then move the plunger 82downwardly uncovering the port 90 and permit-ting this pressure to againenter theinterior of the pumping cylinder barrel. Thus, the deliverystroke of the pump is effected, the capacity of which will vary with thesize of the pumping barrel. When the automatic timer 62 discontinues theoperating impulse through the conduit 64 upon the selector valve 72, thelatter moves toward the right as shown in FIGURE 6, and then cuts offthe operating fluid pressure from the conduits 54 and 50, and the dropin pressure of the chamber 78 then allows the spring 76 to move thevalve to the position shown in FIGURE 6 at which time the conduits 50and 54 place the interior of the pump barrel in connection with the.venting passage 60. Thus the pressure within the pumping chamber isreleased. This pressure, upon decrease of the pressure in the conduits54 and 50, opens the venting valve 88 allowing air to escape from thepump barrel chamber and to the atmosphere in the manner above mentioned.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those-skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A pump installation comprising a vertically elongated pump barreladapted to be submerged in a liquid in a well, said barrel comprising ahousing closed from the atmosphere and having a non-return pump inletvalve effooting the intake of liquid into said barrel but preventingreverse flow, a pump delivery conduit entering said pump barrel andhaving a delivery conduit inlet communicating with the lower portion ofthe pump barrel, a non-return pump delivery valve in said conduit inletadmitting liquid from said pump barrel into said delivery conduit whilepreventing reverse flow, fluid pressure pump operating means includingan automatic selector valve periodically supplying an operating gasunder pressure into said pump barrel and thereby discharging accumulatedliquid therein into said delivery conduit inlet and subsequentlyperiodically venting the pump barrel interior to the atmosphere,pressure responsive valved passage means mounted within the pump barrelcommunicating the interior of said pump barrel with the well borewhereby a rapid equalization of pump barrel-well bore pressure isfacilitated, said fluid pressure pump operating means closing saidpassage means when operating gas under pressure is being supplied intosaid pump barrel and opening said passage means when said pump barrel isbeing vented to the atmosphere.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said fluid pressure pumpoperating means includes a source of fluid under pressure remote fromsaid pump barrel, a gas pressure delivery conduit connecting said sourceWith the interior of said pump barrel, a selector valve in said gaspressure conduit operable to selectively alternately connect the latterto said source and to the atmosphere.

3. The combination of claim 2 including a control valve in said gaspressure conduit, said control valve including a valve housing having adischarge port opening into said pump barrel, a plunger slidable in saidhousing for selectively covering and uncovering said discharge port,spring means yieldingly urging said plunger into discharge port closingposition, the gas supplied under pressure against said plunger from saidsource moving said plunger into discharge port uncovering position.

4. The combination of claim 3 including a venting valve communicatingsaid pump barrel interior with said gas pressure conduit upstream fromsaid control valve, said venting valve comprising a pressure responsivevalve allowing flow from said pump barrel into said gas pressure conduitbut preventing return flow.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said passage means is opened bysaid plunger when the latter closes said discharge port and is closed bysaid plunger when the latter opens said discharge port.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said fluid pressure pumpoperating means includes a source of fluid under pressure remote fromsaid .pump barrel, a gas pressure delivery conduit connecting saidsource with the interior of said pump barrel, a selector valve in saidgas pressure conduit operable to selectively alternately connect thelatter to said source and to the atmosphere.

7, The combination of claim 6 including a control valve in said gaspressure conduit, said control valve including a valve housing having adischarge port opening into said pump barrel, a plunger slidable in saidhousing for selectively covering and uncovering said discharge port,spring means yieldingly urging said plunger into discharge port closingposition, the gas supplied under pressure against said plunger from saidsource moving said plunger into discharge port uncovering position.

8. The combination of claim 7 including a venting valve communicatingsaid pump barrel interior with said gas pressure conduit upstream fromsaid control valve, said venting valve comprising a pressure responsivevalve allowing flow from said pump barrel into said gas pressure conduitbut preventing return flow.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,326,338 12/1919Gregory 103-234 1,750,951 3/1930 Beecher 103-234 1,974,260 9/1934 Church103-234 2,026,226 12/1935 Entrop 103-234 2,208,036 7/1940 Kyner 103-2323,123,015 3/1964 Linklater 103-234 MARK NEWMAN, Primary Examiner.

MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, Examiner. W. J. KRAUSS, Assistant Examiner,

1. A PUMP INSTALLATION COMPRISING A VERTICALLY ELONGATED PUMP BARRELADAPTED TO BE SUBMERGED IN A LIQUID IN A WELL, SAID BARREL COMPRISING AHOUSING CLOSED FROM THE ATMOSPHERE AND HAVING A NON-RETURN PUMP INLETVALVE EFFECTING THE INTAKE OF LIQUID INTO SAID BARREL BUT PREVENTINGREVERSE FLOW, A PUMP DELIVERY CONDUIT ENTERING SAID PUMP BARREL ANDHAVING A DELIVERY CONDUIT INLET COMMUNICATING WITH THE LOWER PORTION OFTHE PUMP BARREL, A NON-RETURN PUMP DELIVERY VALVE IN SAID CONDUIT INLETADMITTING LIQUID FROM SAID PUMP BARREL INTO SAID DELIVERY CONDUIT WHILEPREVENTING REVERSE FLOW, FLUID PRESSURE PUMP OPERATING MEANS INCLUDINGAN AUTOMATIC SELECTOR VALVE PERIODICALLY SUPPLYING AN OPERATING GASUNDER PRESSURE INTO SAID PUMP BARREL AND THEREBY DISCHARGING ACCUMULATEDLIQUID THEREIN INTO SAID DELIVERY CONDUIT INLET AND SUBSEQUENTLYPERIODICALLY VENTING THE PUMP BARREL INTERIOR TO THE ATMOSPHERE,PRESSURE RESPONSIVE VALVED PASSAGE MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN THE PUMP BARRELCOMMUNICATING THE INTERIOR OF SAID PUMP BARREL WITH THE WELL BOREWHEREBY A RAPID EQUALIZATION OF PUMP BARREL-WELL BORE PRESSURE ISFACILITATED, SAID FLUID PRESSURE PUMP OPERATING MEANS CLOSING SAIDPASSAGE MEANS WHEN OPERATING GAS UNDER PRESSURE IS BEING SUPPLIED INTOSAID PUMP BARREL AND OPENING SAID PASSAGE MEANS WHEN SAID PUMP BARREL ISBEING VENTED TO THE ATMOSPHERE.